The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.
The prophets who came before you and me in ancient times prophesied against many nations and powerful kingdoms, warning of war, disaster, and disease.
Jeremiah is reminding Hananiah that throughout history, true prophets have typically brought messages of warning about coming judgment rather than false comfort.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and a false prophet named Hananiah around 594 BC. Hananiah had been prophesying that God would break Babylon's power and restore Judah's fortunes within two years, directly contradicting Jeremiah's message that Babylon's dominance would continue for 70 years. Jeremiah is appealing to the historical pattern of true prophetic ministry to validate his own difficult message.
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